Exploration in Guadeloupe

Monday, November 29, was WW's birthday, and we celebrated in style...by having him buy lots of stuff he wanted.

We headed down the coast to go exploring and to visit some of the places we had read about in the guide books.

Guadeloupe is separated into two islands by a thin saltwater river, the Riviere Salee. Basse Terre, the western island, is the larger and has wonderful mountains, and a rich and luxuriant growth of rain forest . Grande Terre, in the east, is smaller, low and relatively flat, with the fancy beaches and resorts all along its southern coast.

We drove about halfway down the west coast of Basse Terre to where the Route de la Traversee crosses through the Mamelles...smallish mountains, but still steep enough and wet enough to make a walk a must. At the Maison de la Foret, we dismounted and went for a lovely easy hike along a "discovery" trail, branching off onto the "discovery 2" trail, which took us up a slope to a place where there would have been a view if there hadn't been such incredible forest growth.

Setting off through the lush forest growth.
From the front of the line: Enn, Dana, WW.

Huge buttress roots on a gum? kapok? Well, on a rain forest tree.

The trees they do grow high. Lay on my back to take this photo.

Sturdy vines twining through the undergrowth.

After our hike, we drove back the way we had come to a place called Parc des Mamelles, which features an otter and that classic Guadeloupian forest dweller...wait for it...the raccoon. (Don't ask me, I have nooo idea). We didn't actually go in there as the cost was more euros than we felt were necessary, but we did cross the road and have a lovely sandwich and a beer at the snack bar there.

We then decided to return to Deshaies via Point a Pitre. This meant driving clear across Basse Terre to the bridge that would take us to Grande Terre. On the way, we visited the Cascade aux Ecrevisses. This lovely little waterfall is a short walk from the parking lot and the boardwalk leading to it means it is wheelchair accessible!

Cascade aux Ecrevisses. WW tried to find a way up
the far side (he's the little yellow dot over there).

WW, Dana and your correspondent at the falls.

In the parking lot, there was a crafts shop which WW explored with fascination. We came away with a hammock for the boat -- a Creole hammock -- and a couple of rhythm instruments of a basic nature which would, we were sure, make our evening singsongs even more annoying to neighbouring boats.

From thence, it was onwards to Pointe a Pitre where WW bought himself a new guitar case and we bought swim fins for me (mine had been chewed by rats...ew). We had wanted to visit the market, but it was pretty much closed. One woman was still at her stall, packing away spices. I managed to buy turmeric (saffran in Guadeloupe) and fresh ginger.

Then it was off back to Deshaies and Django and our well-earned RPs.